A research program was undertaken to study the functional learning environment (FLE) in which computers operate, i.e., those environments in which learning activities have a function or purpose from the child's viewpoint. Results of three projects illustrate the importance of teachers in creating and interpreting children's learning environments.…

The "symbol systems approach" to the study of computers in education that is outlined avoids the pitfalls of past media research--particularly research on the effects of television on children's learning and knowledge--and asserts that media can be usefully distinguished in terms of the symbol systems they present and the kinds of…

Defining emotional responses as the interaction of three primary emotions occurring along pleasure-displeasure, arousal-nonarousal, and dominance-submissiveness continua, a study hypothesized that (1) a systematic relationship exists between the emotions elicited by the candidate and voting behavior, and that (2) the emotions elicited by…

The integration of American and European mass communication research models would provide a broader sociocultural framework for formulating communication policy. Emphasizing a functional approach, the American diffusionist model assumes that society is a system of interrelated parts naturally tending toward a state of dynamic equilibrium. The…

This paper argues that because of a recent, sizable increase in the number of mergers and acquisitions, especially by foreign corporations in the United States, it is possible that a small number of firms could dominate the publishing and information processing industry in the world. The paper outlines briefly the patterns of mergers and…

To shed light on why President Ronald Reagan chose radio as his favorite medium, a study examined President Reagan's radio addresses in the first year of his second term, 1985, and compared them with his first term speeches of August 1982 to August 1983. The study also compared President Franklin D. Roosevelt's fireside chats with Reagan's radio…

This study explores a relatively new area of computer research, i.e., utilization of computer-generated feedback based upon the knowledge gained in both written and computer-based instruction. One hundred and twenty-six freshmen and sophomore college students from a variety of academic majors volunteered for this study. The instructional materials…

The purpose of the Apple Classroom of Tomorrow (ACOT) is to establish a saturated computer environment both to supplement conventional instruction with computer-based instruction and to teach applicants skills to facilitate performance of school tasks. Seemingly, the most powerful intervention is the pairing of each student with a personal tutor.…

To examine three aspects of the relationship of Black leadership and White press--Black elected officials' (BEOs) views on press coverage of the Black community and on their own dealings with or treatment by the press, and their use of the news media for job-related needs--a study surveyed Blacks from three levels of elective office, school board…

Critics of coverage of nuclear power have charged that the media overemphasize the importance of nuclear accidents, encourage public fear, and omit information vital to public understanding of nuclear power and risk. Some also feel there is an anti-nuclear bias among reporters and editors. A study was conducted to determine if such charges were…

Videocassette recorder (VCR) acquisition and use in developing nations is largely an individual or household decision, and their rapid diffusion is influenced by several factors: price, and its variations due to government restrictions; income and income distribution; the content of broadcast television; the diversity of entertainment media…

This report examined media audiences for the arts using data gathered in the Survey of Public Participation in the Arts (SPA) covering approximately 18,000 U.S. adults in 1982 and 16,000 adults in 1985. The SPA questionnaire covers the use of television, radio, and recordings as a means to participate in seven particular arts activities, which…

Assuming that neighborhood newspapers and neighborhood leaders are among the most important influences on neighborhood residents' issue agendas and definitions of issues, a study examined some of these influences by interviewing a random sample of 239 residents of a low income, urban neighborhood in Minneapolis. In addition, a purposive sample of…

The media have often been related to nation-state building and the generation of national sentiment, but because few ethnic minorities can afford to maintain their own media systems, they generally remain relatively powerless. Indigenous land claims, legal settlements that guarantee territorial sovereignty to an ethnic group, are one way of…

The influence on learning of visuals accompanying self-paced text materials was investigated for students of varied reading comprehension ability levels. The use of varied degrees of realism and media presentation formats in facilitating learning on specific tasks was examined in order to clarify previous research, and to provide specific…